Bush hobbiting

So in the last 2-3 years I’ve made an effort to get more efficient at bush hunting.
It opens up a lot more options as I have been struggling to get out for evening and early morning hunts as have a toddler at home. It’s also a skill that I wanted to improve at. Here’s some results from this year, I mostly hunt alone so ave pics sorry and often forget to take them. 20+ deer bush hunted this year so far so am pretty happy.
All but the little pigs and the ram were southern Ruahines less than 40min drive from home.Attachment 234703Attachment 234704Attachment 234705Attachment 234706Attachment 234707Attachment 234708Attachment 234709Attachment 234710Attachment 234711Attachment 234712Attachment 234713Attachment 234714Attachment 234715
It’s a frustrating game the old bush hunting and you really have to be dialed in. Some days it seems too easy and others can do your head in. It’s fair to say I’ve learnt a lot and will no doubt learn a whole lot more.
Sorry about all the photos of just dead animals, I’m too bloody lazy and forgetful to take any on the timer or scenic pics.

Good on you bud.it feels great when it works.your freezer will be looking healthy and the friends n family happy and well fed too.

Good stuff - That ram is pretty cool!

I tried bush hunting heaps years ago, had some very limited success but it just didn't spin my wheels. Since using dog though it's my absolute favorite thing to do by a long shot

thanks for the photos cant help but notice some of that bush looking really chewed out - but makes bush stalking a bit easier - a tip when bush hunting - if you find your mind wandering and not concentrating on listening scanning - sit down for 10 minutes - think about something else and when ready to focus again getup and go again - really hard to concentrate for hours on end - worked for me and we were doing it day in day out

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

thanks for the photos cant help but notice some of that bush looking really chewed out - but makes bush stalking a bit easier - a tip when bush hunting - if you find your mind wandering and not concentrating on listening scanning - sit down for 10 minutes - think about something else and when ready to focus again getup and go again - really hard to concentrate for hours on end - worked for me and we were doing it day in day out

---

Yeah the bush is quite chewed out in a few places, as you say makes for easier stalking tho. I'll often stop for 10-15 minutes sometimes more and chill/read a book for a bit if i have the time, definitely helps out a lot with the concentration fade and is quite pleasant to just be in the bush relaxing to be honest.

Short of tops in my area its all I know :D love it

Great job mate - that's an excellent number. As someone still learning / teaching myself with hunting (all bush hunting) getting goats has been easy, working on learning better habits with deer can have good days and hard days haha.

That's awesome, 20+ deer is real good going, I'd love to get better at bush stalking as it seems to be the must thrilling kind of hunting.
That ram is super cool!

Wow, awesome effort. It's super rewarding isnt' it. It appears there is some nice hunting terrain and good animal numbers in the Ruahines? Want to give it a go if I get down that way. Just hard to drive past the Kawekas...

if you want nice bush to hunt Te Urewera has some cracker country- especially some of the high mountain beech country ( some call it goblin forest ) good roar country

I grew up only having bush hunting as an option. I quite like the challenge that comes with it compared to open country where marksmanship is just if not more important than stalking skill.

Well done that man
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

Wow, awesome effort. It's super rewarding isnt' it. It appears there is some nice hunting terrain and good animal numbers in the Ruahines? Want to give it a go if I get down that way. Just hard to drive past the Kawekas...

---

Ive found its a bit of a juggling act between finding areas where the deer are hanging out and huntable areas ie terrain and how thick the bush is. Its taken me quite a bit of scouting and checking out areas to find what suits but is starting to pay off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RUMPY

I grew up only having bush hunting as an option. I quite like the challenge that comes with it compared to open country where marksmanship is just if not more important than stalking skill.

---

For sure, it opens up a whole lot more options too, much nicer in the bush when its windy or wet!

A great skill, I'm trying to get a helluva lot better at it the bush I seem to hunt is very thick with patchy sign

@trooper90 try and find some bush you can see through first, it's hard stalking thick stuff because it's noisy and you hardly ever see the animal before it hears something and pisses off. Like Bhess said, thick stuff is better on windy days where your noise is covered. Also make sure you have decent sign before going full ninja mode, back when I was young I would stalk around covering 2-300 metres an hour, took a more experienced mate there one day and he said " there's nothing living here". Walked to a spot higher up and the second spur we crested he dropped a massive red hind.

A great skill, I'm trying to get a helluva lot better at it the bush I seem to hunt is very thick with patchy sign

Awesome stuff....keep it up.

Knocking those 3 over in one go would have been a good buzz, would have been a heavy carry out. What's your bang stick?

I would say, you are doing pretty damn good on your bush stalking journey.

Keep doing what you're doing.:thumbsup:

Thank you for sharing. I like bush hunting but in recent years, I am kinda of trying to avoid go into bush for two reason. 1st, the sand fly, I still have one spot on my leg that is not completely recovered from the last bite nearly four years ago. 2nd, get bushed.:omg:

Well done. What calibre, rifle do you favour?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Knocking those 3 over in one go would have been a good buzz, would have been a heavy carry out. What's your bang stick?

---

Yeah it’s was a bit of a buzz. Just bang bang bang as fast as I could cycle the bolt. Was a mission out alright!
3 diff rifles in those pics a BSA majestic 270(my fathers I use when I’m down south) a Winchester EW 7mm08 and a Winchester.243.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jhon

Well done. What calibre, rifle do you favour?

---

Don’t really have a favourite calibre those animals were shot with .270 .243 or 7mm08.
1 BSA AND 2 winchesters. I enjoy them all

Its pretty obvious, I can see you've listed them with the 270 first, so subconsciously you've already made your mind up:cool:

No the 7mm08 is mentioned last as it is so humble and awesome. Clearly its his favourite until he gets a 223